Improvement in looms for figured fabrics



N- FETERS. FHOTCLLITNOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D. C4

I YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL ECOLES, OF KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOOMS FOR FIGURED FABRICS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,137, dated March 5, 1850; antedated December 22, 1849.

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL EccLEs, of Kensington, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power- Looms for leaving Plain and Figured Fabrics; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of the loom, showing the improved picking-motion; Fig. 2, a back elevation of part of the loom, also showing the improved picking-motion; Fig. S, a front elevation of the loom; Figs. 4 and 7, the two pinions I, fixed on the star-shaft lS for moving boxes. Figs. 5 and 8 show the position of the star-wheel M2 and star-d river M', also of star-wheel L and stardriver L. Fig. G represents the bevel-cog gearing p4 and p5. Fig. 9 is a left side elevation of the loom. Fig. 10 is a right side elevation thereof. Fig. 11 is a plan of the pattern-plates. Fig. 12 represents the under side and Fig. 13 the front of the sliding box complete. Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the tappet-shaft E and fiddle-'stick b2, showing the position of the pattern-levers o, duc.; Fig. 15, a front elevation of the foregoing, a portion only of which being shown in Fig. 3 to avoid complication. Fig. 16 is aplan of Figs. 14 and 15. Fig. 17 represents the adjustinglever Gfl with the parts immediately connected with it.

The loom -framing, driving-pulleys, flywheel, crank, crank-wheel, tappet-shaft, clothbeam, yarn-beam, and such other parts as are the same as in common looms (although represented in the drawings) are in this specilication mentioned only when their connection with the improvements claimed requires it.

A Jacquard machine or any other apparatus for working the shed may beused; but not having any connection with the improvements no further mention is made of them.

Corresponding letters of reference are used in the different parts of the loom represented on the drawings.

The first part of my improvement consists in the mode of working the picking-motion, Figs. 1 and 2. t represents the crank; b, the crank-arms connected with the lay-swords b',

hung upon fiddle-stick b2, riding in carriers b3. c is the lay-bottom. Dis the shaft, which reaches from lay-sword to lay-sword, wherein it has'its bearings. On the shaft D are fixed the two picking-fingers D, just inside of each lay-sword, the one on the right-hand side of loom being placed with its point opposite to D2. D2 are fingers projecting from the picking-shaft D3,o11 the top of which are fixed the picking-sticks D4, to the end of which latter the picker is attached in the usual manner. The picking-finger D on the left-hand side of theloom is placed with its point below the finger D2, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Eisapiniononthetappet-shaftE,Working in wheel E2, on the hub of which is placed the cam E4 is aleveron stud E5, resting at the pointct, Figl, on the surface of the aforesaid cam. EGis an arm extending downward from near the end of the lever E4, the swivelplate E7 acting as carrier (and joint also) for the oscillating rod E8, which connects the picking-fingers D with the lever E4 by being passed through the swivel-plate E7, being adjusted by the nuts The following explanation will show the operation of the above: IVhen the crank is approaching its back center, the picking-finger D willstrike the finger D2, thereby throwing the shuttle out of the box by means of the picker being connected to picking-stick D4, as in other looms, and so long as the lever E4 remains in that position the loom will pick from the same side; but as soon as the lever E4 is raised by the cam E3 the picking-finger D (on the left-hand side of the loom) will be raised opposite the corresponding iinger D2 and the picking-finger D (on the right-hand side) will be raised above the corresponding finger D2, and will strike and pick the same as before. The number of picks from a side is regulated by the cam E3. A plate-tappet may be substituted for the latter, so as to pick any given number of picks from a side, (provided the number of boxes being corresponding) or it may be varied in such a manner as to suit the goods required to be manufactured. The improvement-s in this picking-motion, to any other heretofore in use where the picking is direct from the lay, will be obvious to any person experienced in power-looms: first, being so arranged that it may be easily applied to ordinary power-looms where the lay is supported from below, as shown in drawings; secondly, enabling the weaver to change the number of picks 'from a side by changing the cam on the wheel E2, as hereinbefore described, without deranging any other part of the loom.

The second part of my invention consists of a. series of small plates, in combination with the motions that act with them, for the purpose of determining' the movement of the shuttle-boxes. p3 are a series of flat plates, perforated near the outer edges A (but. in the center thereof) to receive the pins in thecylinder p, by which the said plates are progressively actuated. The plates p3 are also perforated at different intervals to admit of the pins o in pattern-levers o to enter; but in no case can more than two pins enter the plates at one and the same time, one for each series of shuttle-boxes. There is also a small hole at the corners of each plate, through which a wire ring is fixed, which connectsor binds' them together, thereby forming an endless chain. The numberof plates forming a chain is regulated by the length of the pattern and may be varied by the holes B and B (or blanks may be introduced) to snit the pattern or device required to be woven. The rst pattern-lever o is attached by the rod o3 to the first pulling-catch o2, hereinafter described, and the said catch acting upon the bevel 7c3 moves the segment circular shuttleboxes backward. The second pattern-lever with its connections act upon bevel 7a2, thereby moving the segment circular sh uttle-boxes forward by the intermediate bevel 7c', connecting the bevels 702 and 7c3, as will be more fully described hereinafter. (See Fig. 16.) The above-mentioned ,pattern-levers are acted upon by the holes B in pattern-plates p3. The two holes B on theleft-hand side of plate act upon the pattern-levers that are connected to bevels 7a4 and 755, and, by the connection hereinafter described, causes the series of sliding shuttle-boxes at the left-hand side of loom to be moved backward and forward. T is a lever placed on the stud T, and is worked by the cam "2 on the tappet-shaft E. Underneath pattern-levers o, lixed to said lever T, is a projecting plate TS for the purpose of lifting pattern-levers 0, so that the pins o will be raised above the surface of the plates p3, p is a cylinder working on stud p', having two flanges or rims in which are fixed the small studs or pins'z. The said pins enter into the pattern-plates p3 at the small holes` A, whereby the said plates are brought forward and held in their proper places. On the hub of thecyliuderp is fastened the bevel-wheel p4, receiving motion from the small bevel p5 on shaft pi. pli" is a bracket that carries shaft p A collar is fixed on stud p10, which, being bored, serves as foot-step to shaft p6. On the other end of shaft p" is placed the ruiter-wheel 197, fastened by' set-screws, whereby to regulate the exact position of the holes B and B in the pattern-plates p11 is a plate which I call a star-driver, (fastened on the shaft E,) on the side of which is a rim. Two parts of the said rim are cut away to allow the points of the star-plate p9, which works loose on stud p10, to pass. p9 is a starplate carefully divided into eight parts, the

surface of which works on the rim ofjstardriver p11. Eight slots are also cut in"said plate to receive the pins in said star-dgt-v er. There are two pins a' securely placed in @tiardriver pu. 'When the surface of the star is on the rim of the star-driver, the said star orJ anything attached thereto cannot possib'li move; but Vwhen the pins in the star-driv v enter into the slots in star p, the said star.

moves one-eighth of a revolution, and by the; connection of miter-wheel 198, which is keyed' on the hub of star p9 with the hereinbeforementioned miter-wheel p7, the cylinder p is moved one thirty-second part of a revolution, thereby bringing another set of holes in plates p3 under the pins o. o are four pattern-levers, Figs. 3, l0, 14, I5, and 16, working on stud u, in each of which is fixed a small steel pin 0, that enter into the holes B and B of patteru-platespS. 03 are four con nectin g-rods attached to the end of pattern-levers o, and also to the pulling-catches o2, and are adjusted by screw and socket-nut, as shownin the drawings. It will be perceived that when there is a blank plate under the pin's'o the pins in pattern-levers o rest on the surface of said plate, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 10, in consequence whereof the pullingcatches 02 are prevented from acting on bevels k2, 7&3, 7a4, and 765, and of course the shuttleboxes remain stationary.

The third part of my invention consists iu the apparatus hereinafterdescribed by which the boxes are moved andare held in their respective positions while the pick is being made. G represents a segment circular box; G', the arms of segment fixed ou shaft G2, riding` in carriers G3, which are bolted to uprights G4 and G5, which said uprights are fixed on fiddle-stick or rocking rail b2. G4 is lcarried up to near the lay-bottom c, adjusted and held in its position by foot G, which is bolted to lay-bottom c. G5 is only carried up to point 0 s, (see Fig. 3,) adjusted and held by plate G7, Which is permanently fixed to'laysword b. I are two pinions, one of which works in tliesegment-wheel I and the other works in the straight rack l2 beneath the slid` ing boxes r2. l3 are two small shafts revolving in carriers I4, I5, I, and I7. The said carrier I*t is bolted to upright G4, and the carrier I5 is bolted to another carrier IS, fixed on fiddle-stick b2. The stud 7c, that carries the bevel-wheel 7c', is also fixed in the carrier 15. 7a2 and 7a2 are bevels working in bevel 7c', and are loose upon the fiddle-stick b2. 7a4 and 765 are two other bevels, same as 7a2 and 7g2, which work in the small bevel 7c, keyed on the shaft 7c?. This shaft is held by the carriers 7c@ and 7a, which are bolted to upright The bevels 7a2, 7c3, 7a4, and 765 have on the outside s ix pins each at regular intervals, upon which the catches 02 act, as seen in Figs. 10, 1l, 15, and 16. A star-driver L is fixed on the hub of bevel kwhich gives motion to star L', which is keyed on small shaft I3, together with the pinion l, that works in the segment-wheel, thereby giving direct action to the series of shuttle-boxes G. L2 is a miter-wheel keyed on lhaft k7, working in initer L3, which is.

keg; .d on shaft L4, the said shaft extending across the loom, and revolves in carriers M, which are bolted to the lay-swords b. The s* ar-driver M is fastened to shaft L4, an d starv.late M2 is fastened on small shaft I3, up'on which is placed pinion l. rlhis pinion works in the straight rack l2, and thereby moves the slidingboxes r2. The connection between the bevels 7a4 and h5 and the sliding boxes will be clearly understood by a careful examination of Figs. 3, 9, and l2, together with the foregoing specification. s is the bell-crank lever placed. on stud s. s2 is a long stud or pin through the lower end of said lever, on which stud or pin are placed the pulling-catches 02, which are adjustable at the point of. (See Fig. 16.) The bell-crank levers is worked by the double cam or iappet s3, fastened by setscrews to the tappet-shaft E. A lever of the third order may be applied as a substitute for the bell-crank lever, one end working on stud in frame at the point marked B, Fig. 10, the cam acting on the middle and the other end att-ached to pulling-catches, as above. Supposing that there was one hole B in patternplate p3 (and the boxes in the position as shown in Fig. 10) directly under the first pattern-lever o, then the pin o in said pattern-lever (by the action of the apparatus hereinbefore described) would enter, thereby causing the other end to sink, and by the connecting-rod o3 being connected to the said pattern-lever and also to the pullingcatch 02 (see Fig. 14) the said pulling-catch would rest on the piu in bevel k3, and when by the revolving of the tappet-shaft, the cam s3 acting upon the bell-crank level' s, the aforementioned bevel -.S is turned one-sixth of a revolution, and, by the star-driver L being fixed to said bevel k3, the motion is communicated to star-plate L and the pinion l, and the said pinion being in gear with the segment-wheel l brings ilo. 2 of the series of segment circular shuttle-boxes in line with the race-board. The series of sliding shuttleboxes are acted upon in precisely the same manner as the segment circular shuttle-boxes by the mechanism hereinbefore described.

The fourth part of my invention will be clearly understood by referring to Fig. 17 and the following specification: D0 is a rod or lever, with its appurtenances, for adj usting the position of the pins in bevels k2, k3, c4, and 1.35 or any of them, or star-driver L. a0 is-a bracket or carrier on the end of fiddle-stick b2, fastened to the upright G4, said upright vibrating with the lay. In this carrier is fixed the shaft c0 by means of the n ut b', on which shaft is placed the adjusting rod or lever D0. E0 is a stud fixed in the loom-framing, to which is hooked the spiral spring l, on the lower end of which is attached (by means of a set-nut I5) one end of the lever D0, the height of which is regulated by said setn ut and the plate no, the plate not allowing it to rise too high and the spring` keeping it up. The object of this motion is to hold thebevels, (or the star-driver L,) and consequently the series of shuttleboxes connected therewith, in a certain position after the pulling-catches 02 have acted upon said bevels and to set the said bevels and star-driver L perfectly at liberty when the pulling-catches act upon the said bevels and star-driver L. )V hen the boxes are being moved, the lay is forward and the upright G4, the carrier or bracket a0, and the rod or lever D04 are in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 17, therebyy clearing the pins in star-driver L; but when the lay goes back the shaft c, and also the end of the rod D0, rises, whereby the points c and u are brought against the pins of the bevel 76301' star-driver L, so that the pulling-catches o2 always find the pins in bevels in one position. The lever D0 is kept. in this position until after the pick has been made, when, by the lay coming forward, the shaft c0 is depressed (together with that end of the lever fixed on it) and brought into its former position. ln Fig. 17 one lever D0 is only shown. Another lever, of precisely the same description and attached to the same rod co, is fixed so as to act on the pins in bevel 7a4, as before described. The same motions are applicable to the moving of revolving sh uttle-boxes or drop shuttle-boxes, or to boxes that are detached from the lay, or any other description of movable shuttleboxes used in looms for weaving plain or iigured fabrics. It will be perceived that all the above motions act independent of the Jacquard machine, and all the said motions may -be regulated as to time of action to the greatest nicety, and the loom can thereby be worked with greater ease and quicker speed.

Having now described the nature of my improvements and their mode of operation, I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Leiters Patent, the following, viz:

1. Obtainingthe picking-motion or (otherwise expressed) giving action to the pickingshaft by means of theV shaft D, carrying the pickin g-ingers D', oscillating with the lay, in combination with the -inode of raising and depressing the lingers D by the combination of the cam a and lever e4, the said cam being detached from the other parts of the loom, thereby enabling it to be easily changed, in the manner and for the purpose above specified.

2. The pattern-platesp, made and Worked in the manner and for the purpose herein fully made known, in combination With the pattern-levers o, with the pins o iiXed in them, the lever T and cam 'l2 for the purposes of lifting said pattern-levers o, the star-driver 2341, and the star-plate p9, the miter-wheel 197 L and pinion I, and the shaft k7, bevels L2 and L3, and shaft L4, together with the stardriver M and star-plate M2, said bevels, shaft, star-drivers, and stars oscillating with the lay and acting from Ithe Same center, so that the connection between the shuttle-boxes and b evels is never broken or detached, the whole being constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose herein fully described. I do not limit my claim to the precise arrangement herein set forth, nor to the moving of any particular description of shuttle-boxes; but I do claim my combination of motions used for the purpose of moving shuttle-boxes of any description when such arrangements and combinations are substantially the same with that herein described. y

4. The apparatus for holding the pins in star-driver L or the pins in the bevels k2, k3, 7a, and 7t5, and consequently the shuttle-boxes connected therewith, in a proper position, or, more particularly, the lever D2 and rod c0 connected to the bracket or carrier a0, and the action to said lever being given by the oscillation of the lay, inthe manner and for the purpose herein speciiied. f

SAMUEL ECOLES. ll/Vtnesses GEORGE A. CLARKE, WILLIAM ECOLES. 

